Cabinet approves $885M to purchase solar systems for 21 Indigenous villages

Prime Minister Mark Phillips on Tuesday announced the Cabinet’s recent approval of $885 million to provide solar systems with battery storage to 21 Amerindian communities across the country.

“Toshaos, these 21 solar PV with batteries will benefit 12,703 of the villages’ populations,” the Prime Minister revealed during day two of the annual National Toshaos Council (NTC) Conference in Georgetown.

Some villages that will benefit from the solar systems include: Mashabo in Region Two (41.5 kilowatt system), St Cuthbert’s Mission in Region Four (51kw system), and Kamarang Settlement in Region Seven (106kw system).

Additionally, Issano/Tassarene and Micobie will each receive a 51kw system, while Karrau in Region Seven, Rupertee, Katoonarib, Parabara, and Sawariwau in Region Nine will each receive 41.5kw systems.

Several other villages in Regions One, Seven, and Nine will also benefit from the solar systems.

Meanwhile, in response to several village leaders requesting solar farms in their communities, the Prime Minister assured that teams from the Guyana Energy Agency will conduct assessments.

However, this does not guarantee that the communities will receive solar farms.

“We will be sending out teams to your community because if you are to get a solar farm, we have to do an assessment first and the GEA has teams that are visiting communities and doing assessments to determine where we can site those solar farms,” the Prime Minister said.

He further noted that the household solar systems are also being delivered to various communities.

Communities like Santa Aratak in Region Three and Kangaruma in the Middle Mazaruni requested solar farms.